---
title: 'Bazel docs style guide'
---

Thank you for contributing to Bazel's documentation. This serves as a quick
documentation style guide to get you started. For any style questions not
answered by this guide, follow the
[Google developer documentation style guide](https://developers.google.com/style){: .external}.

## Defining principles {:#principles}

Bazel docs should uphold these principles:

-  **Concise.** Use as few words as possible.
-  **Clear.** Use plain language. Write without jargon for a fifth-grade
   reading level.
-  **Consistent.** Use the same words or phrases for repeated concepts
   throughout the docs.
-  **Correct.** Write in a way where the content stays correct for as long as
   possible by avoiding time-based information and promises for the future.

## Writing {:#writing-tips}

This section contains basic writing tips.

### Headings {:#headings}

-  Page-level headings start at H2. (H1 headings are used as page titles.)
-  Make headers as short as is sensible. This way, they fit in the TOC
   without wrapping.

   -  <span class="compare-better">Yes</span>: Permissions
   -  <span class="compare-worse">No</span>: A brief note on permissions

-  Use sentence case for headings

   -  <span class="compare-better">Yes</span>: Set up your workspace
   -  <span class="compare-worse">No</span>: Set Up Your Workspace

-  Try to make headings task-based or actionable. If headings are conceptual,
   it may be based around understanding, but write to what the user does.

   -  <span class="compare-better">Yes</span>: Preserving graph order
   -  <span class="compare-worse">No</span>: On the preservation of graph order

### Names {:#names}

-  Capitalize proper nouns, such as Bazel and Starlark.

   -  <span class="compare-better">Yes</span>: At the end of the build, Bazel prints the requested targets.
   -  <span class="compare-worse">No</span>: At the end of the build, bazel prints the requested targets.

-  Keep it consistent. Don't introduce new names for existing concepts. Where
   applicable, use the term defined in the
   [Glossary](/reference/glossary).

   -  For example, if you're writing about issuing commands on a
      terminal, don't use both terminal and command line on the page.

### Page scope {:#page-scope}

-  Each page should have one purpose and that should be defined at the
   beginning. This helps readers find what they need quicker.

   -  <span class="compare-better">Yes</span>: This page covers how to install Bazel on Windows.
   -  <span class="compare-worse">No</span>: (No introductory sentence.)

-  At the end of the page, tell the reader what to do next. For pages where
   there is no clear action, you can include links to similar concepts,
   examples, or other avenues for exploration.

### Subject {:#subject}

In Bazel documentation, the audience should primarily be users—the people using
Bazel to build their software.

-  Address your reader as "you". (If for some reason you can't use "you",
   use gender-neutral language, such as they.)
   -  <span class="compare-better">Yes</span>: To build Java code using Bazel,
      you must install a JDK.
   -  **MAYBE:** For users to build Java code with Bazel, they must install a JDK.
   -  <span class="compare-worse">No</span>: For a user to build Java code with
      Bazel, he or she must install a JDK.

-  If your audience is NOT general Bazel users, define the audience at the
   beginning of the page or in the section. Other audiences can include
   maintainers, contributors, migrators, or other roles.
-  Avoid "we". In user docs, there is no author; just tell people what's
   possible.
   -  <span class="compare-better">Yes</span>: As Bazel evolves, you should update your code base to maintain
      compatibility.
   -  <span class="compare-worse">No</span>: Bazel is evolving, and we will make changes to Bazel that at
      times will be incompatible and require some changes from Bazel users.

### Temporal {:#temporal}

Where possible, avoid terms that orient things in time, such as referencing
specific dates (Q2 2022) or saying "now", "currently", or "soon."  These go
stale quickly and could be incorrect if it's a future projection. Instead,
specify a version level instead, such as "Bazel X.x and higher supports
\<feature\> or a GitHub issue link.

-  <span class="compare-better">Yes</span>: Bazel 0.10.0 or later supports
   remote caching.
-  <span class="compare-worse">No</span>: Bazel will soon support remote
   caching, likely in October 2017.

### Tense {:#tense}

-  Use present tense. Avoid past or future tense unless absolutely necessary
   for clarity.
   -  <span class="compare-better">Yes</span>: Bazel issues an error when it
      finds dependencies that don't conform to this rule.
   -  <span class="compare-worse">No</span>:  If Bazel finds a dependency that
      does not conform to this rule, Bazel will issue an error.

-  Where possible, use active voice (where a subject acts upon an object) not
   passive voice (where an object is acted upon by a subject). Generally,
   active voice makes sentences clearer because it shows who is responsible. If
   using active voice detracts from clarity, use passive voice.
   -  <span class="compare-better">Yes</span>: Bazel initiates X and uses the
      output to build Y.
   -  <span class="compare-worse">No</span>: X is initiated by Bazel and then
      afterward Y will be built with the output.

### Tone {:#tone}

Write with a business friendly tone.

-  Avoid colloquial language. It's harder to translate phrases that are
   specific to English.
   -  <span class="compare-better">Yes</span>: Good rulesets
   -  <span class="compare-worse">No</span>: So what is a good ruleset?

-  Avoid overly formal language. Write as though you're explaining the
   concept to someone who is curious about tech, but doesn't know the details.

## Formatting {:#format}

### File type {:#file-type}

For readability, wrap lines at 80 characters. Long links or code snippets
may be longer, but should start on a new line. For example:

Note: Where possible, use Markdown instead of HTML in your files. Follow the
[GitHub Markdown Syntax Guide](https://guides.github.com/features/mastering-markdown/#syntax){: .external}
for recommended Markdown style.

### Links {:#links}

-  Use descriptive link text instead of "here" or "below". This practice
   makes it easier to scan a doc and is better for screen readers.
   -  <span class="compare-better">Yes</span>: For more details, see [Installing Bazel].
   -  <span class="compare-worse">No</span>: For more details, see [here].

-  End the sentence with the link, if possible.
   -  <span class="compare-better">Yes</span>: For more details, see [link].
   -  <span class="compare-worse">No</span>: See [link] for more information.

### Lists {:#lists}

-  Use an ordered list to describe how to accomplish a task with steps
-  Use an unordered list to list things that aren't task based. (There should
   still be an order of sorts, such as alphabetical, importance, etc.)
-  Write with parallel structure. For example:
   1. Make all the list items sentences.
   1. Start with verbs that are the same tense.
   1. Use an ordered list if there are steps to follow.

### Placeholders {:#placeholders}

-  Use angle brackets to denote a variable that users should change.
   In Markdown, escape the angle brackets with a back slash: `\<example\>`.
   -  <span class="compare-better">Yes</span>: `bazel help <command>`: Prints
      help and options for `<command>`
   -  <span class="compare-worse">No</span>: bazel help _command_: Prints help
      and options for "command"

-  Especially for complicated code samples, use placeholders that make sense
   in context.

### Table of contents {:#toc}

Use the auto-generated TOC supported by the site. Don't add a manual TOC.

## Code {:#code}

Code samples are developers' best friends. You probably know how to write these
already, but here are a few tips.

If you're referencing a small snippet of code, you can embed it in a sentence.
If you want the reader to use the code, such as copying a command, use a code
block.

### Code blocks {:#code-blocks}

-  Keep it short. Eliminate all redundant or unnecessary text from a code
   sample.
-  In Markdown, specify the type of code block by adding the sample's language.

```
```shell
...
```

-  Separate commands and output into different code blocks.

### Inline code formatting {:#code-format}

-  Use code style for filenames, directories, paths, and small bits of code.
-  Use inline code styling instead of _italics_, "quotes," or **bolding**.
   -  <span class="compare-better">Yes</span>: `bazel help <command>`: Prints
      help and options for `<command>`
   -  <span class="compare-worse">No</span>: bazel help _command_: Prints help
      and options for "command"
